Alice Golar Garden Dedication

Finkelstein Memorial Library
24 Chestnut Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Phone: (845) 352-5700
Fax: (845) 352-2319

Director: Bob Devino

New Garden is Dedicated to former library trustee Alice Golar

Alice Golar is recognized for her distinguished service to the Finkelstein Memorial Library Board of Trustees.

A new garden was dedicated in honor of Mrs. Alice Golar at a reception on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Finkelstein Memorial Library. Mrs. Golar served on the Library Board of Trustees from 1972 until her retirement effective June 30, 2008. She served on the board alongside Robert H. Finkelstein, the benefactor and longtime board president of the library. Mrs. Golar replaced Mr. Finkelstein as board president after his death in 2001 and served as the library's board president until her retirement earlier this year.

Mr. Richard F. Rothbard, President, Board of Trustees, and Mr. Robert Devino, Director, Finkelstein Memorial Library, offered welcoming comments. New York State Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, Friends of the Finkelstein Memorial Library President Rena Finkelstein and Martha Golar, Mrs. Golar's daughter, also spoke at the event.

In addition to Mr. Rothbard, library board members in attendance were David Hershkowitz, Brenda Schlanger and Mel Zalkin. Robert Hubsher, Executive Director of the Ramapo Catskill Library System and Stephen Oppenheim, President of the Ramapo Catskill Library System Board of Trustees were present. Former Finkelstein Memorial Library Director and current Trustee of the Ramapo Catskill Library System Samuel L. Simon and former Finkelstein Memorial Library Director Eleanor Kuhns were in attendance. Ms. Christine Ball, Finkelstein Memorial Library Union President, presented a handcrafted wall hanging to Mrs. Golar as a gift of appreciation from the Finkelstein Memorial Library staff. Proclamations in honor of Mrs. Golar's distinguished service were received from the Town of Ramapo, the East Ramapo Central School District, the New York State Assembly, the New York State Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Finkelstein Memorial Library Board President Richard F. Rothbard addresses the audience.

Mrs. Golar earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Brooklyn College, a Masters Degree in Economics and Statistics from Columbia University, and a Masters Degree in Mathematics from the Courant Institute of New York University. Mrs. Golar worked as a statistician in Washington, D.C. and in New York City. Her experience in statistics found her working with Superintendent Colton of the East Ramapo Central School District to predict future growth in the school district. Mrs. Golar was appointed to the advisory board of Finkelstein Library to work on a survey. She was then appointed to the library board of trustees to complete a term in June 1972, and starting in 1973, was elected to seven five-year terms.

A resident of Monsey, and a longtime mathematics teacher in the East Ramapo Central School District and at Rockland Community College, Mrs. Golar has been an avid reader and spearheaded many successful programs and book clubs at the library. During Mrs. Golar 's tenure, the library has become one of the most heavily used libraries in the southeastern New York region. It has also been recognized as one of the most diverse in ethnicity and language of any suburban library in the country.

Guests listen to a presentation at the Alice Golar Garden dedication on Sunday, October 26, 2008.

Mrs. Golar has continued to encourage the library to reach out and serve every segment of the community through such services as the “mobile library,” which travels around the community on Sundays (a joint effort with the school district); classes in English as a second language; outreach story times at local schools and daycare centers; homebound services for the sick, elderly and disabled; meeting space for community organizations; a wide variety of programming for both adults and children; computer training classes and high-speed computer access for the public.

As a Library Trustee, Mrs. Golar has been instrumental in the overall development of the library over the past 36 years. Mrs. Golar continues to remain active as a member of the Friends of the Finkelstein Memorial Library.

The Trustees and staff of the Finkelstein Memorial Library owe Mrs. Golar much gratitude for her many years of distinguished service and wish her all the best in her retirement.